DEALS

Made fresh, never frozen, here's the juice on local and state politics from the staff of The Tampa Tribune, The St. Petersburg Tribune and the Tribune/Scripps Capital Bureau.

Cabinet incumbents, other candidates tally up their take

Published: May 13, 2014

The News Service of Florida reports: Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi collected $132,100 in cash for her campaign account in April, continuing to build a huge fund-raising edge over Democratic challengers George Sheldon and Perry Thurston, according to newly filed reports.

Bondi had raised an overall total of $1,159,621 through April 30, while spending only $57,281. Two Bondi-affiliated political committees, dubbed “Justice for All” and “And Justice for All,” reported raising an overall total of $1.67 million in cash through April.

Sheldon, meanwhile, reported raising $19,083 last month, giving him a total of $212,386. But Sheldon’s campaign-finance report posted online also indicates he had spent $215,309.

Thurston, the House minority leader who did not raise money last month because of the legislative session, reported an overall total of $102,392.

In other races, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater each reeled in more than $1.7 million in campaign contributions as they appear headed toward re-election.

Putnam collected $91,085 in April, bringing his overall total to $1,778,309. He also had received a total of $571,358 in in-kind contributions through April 30.

Democratic candidate Thad Hamilton had raised an overall total of $12,613 through last month.

Atwater, meanwhile, collected $139,385 in April and reported a total of $1,734,854. He also had received a total of $686,349 in in-kind contributions.